Support TIG

Connect with TIG

Festivals

This was an interesting time for director Daniel Torok to do a documentary on underground hip-hop in Seattle. In a strange way, it either seems a little late, or a little too early. (Maybe that means it's right on time -- the way a new record doesn't quite make sense, recalling memories of other music while transitioning the mind into a new situation, the heart into a fresh appreciation.)

It's a period in which people who have been enlivening the scene for years, like Larry Mizell Jr. of Don't Talk To The Cops and Sportin' Life owner DeVon Manier (two of the most thoughtful, generous, and charismatic men you will ever meet in the music business), are enjoying the vivified, elevated energies of a scene they dug out swell up with new talent coming up around them (muchly due to them). It's also a moment in which irresistible, invigorating breakthroughs come from unexpected sources, such as the comeback of Macklemore from a once-doomed grid, jacking into gold sales from as near middle America as 206 hip-hop has ever gotten.

Imaginary Rich has done it again! His red carpet coverage is UNSTOPPABLE. This time he captured the arrivals for both The Punk Singer and Her Aim is True: two rock-related documentaries that screened at SIFF this past weekend.

You gotta love Peaches to love this film; and I do. Her music makes me wanna dance all night, get pissed, be fierce, make out, jump up and down, and do a ton of tequila shots.

In Peaches Does Herself, the rock star/punker/electronic Goddess takes her stage antics to new performance art levels; directing herself, dancers, and other musicians through a storified-approach to her songs involving hot pink underwear, spage-age costumes (which she peels off to reveal hot pink underwear), and simulated sex. Lots and lots and lots of simulated sex. Oh, and a little bit of blood too. OF COURSE.

Everyone's legs seemed continually splayed; and Peaches particular brand of art includes more representations of boobs, vaginas, and cocks (+ a few real ones) than most people are probably comfortable with. But that's the point, isn't it? Peaches is always trying to throw this stuff in your face in order to make a statement about it.

If you missed the red carpet arrivals for the Seattle International Film Festival's Opening Night in Renton, you're probably really sad. But don't be! Because Imaginary Rich captured the cast & crew of Touchy Feely for our imaginary film fest fans.

BONUS:Touchy Feely is also screening today: Saturday, 5/25, 1:30pm, at The Egyptian. And if you have tickets, you'll get to see the red carpet be rolled out once again for Director Lynn Shelton and cast, plus there'll be a Q&A after the screening. YAYYYYYYYYYYYY

There's a lot of stuff going on every day at SIFF between now and June 9th. To try and cut through some of the clutter, I wanted to share some recommendations for this long Memorial Day weekend. I've only seen a small fraction of the SIFF films (hard as that may be to believe), so likely there are some gems I'm missing. But based on what I've seen here are some interesting, quality choices worth staying inside for. A few picks that I haven't watched yet but am really looking forward to catching are: The Spectacular Now, Her Aim is True, Drug Warand, of course, some of the shorts packages playing.

And don't forget, if you're having difficulty navigating the SIFF website it's probably not you. I'd written up some snarky instructions on how to get around that folks keep mentioning have proved helpful to them.

A twisty political thriller, a surprisingly good high-school movie, and a shockingly bad David Sedaris adaptation are among SIFF's highlights and lowlights in week two (May 24-30).

DON'T MISS:

Camion{screens May 29 at 6:30pm and May 30 at 4:30pm at the Uptown}
A truck driver nearing retirement age gets in a head-on collision on the job, and his two sons come home (somewhere in rural French Canadia) to help him out of the ensuing funk. The story then takes an interesting detour into childhood-regression territory, focusing on the brothers: one's a funny fuckup who looks kinda like Dave Grohl and the other is a straighter-lacer who looks like I dunno who but definitely not Dave Grohl. Despite any casting questions or POV unevenness, this is a beautifully-crafted film with a gorgeous ending.

Paradise trilogy: Love, Faith, Hope{screening back-to-back May 25 beginning at 10am at Pacific Place}
A captivating series of films focusing on three women as they confront themselves and search for some version of happiness. Love travels with full-figured, fiftysomething hausfrau Teresa as she becomes a "Sugar Mama" sex tourist in Kenya; in Faith we get to know Teresa's sister, a fanatic Catholic missionary whose summer is disrupted by the sudden return of her paraplegic Muslim husband; then there's Teresa's sullen 13-year-old daughter Melanie, making unexpected new friendships at a fat camp and flirting with a much older camp doctor, in Hope. All three feature intriguing photography (director Ulrich Seidl has a fondness for static symmetrical shots, mainly of characters in small rooms) and audacious, often ruthless storytelling (he also has a fondness for challenging the viewer to look directly at unpleasantness). Paradise is well worth your while.

We're giving you the day-by-day for this year's Sasquatch! music festival -- check out our recommendations for Friday here, Saturday here, Sunday here, and read on for Monday's picks!

Start Monday off with Nissim at 1:00 on the Cthulhu stage. Nissim is the moniker of Damian Black -- who you might know better by his former alias, D. Black, manager and member of Sporting Life Records and accomplished rapper and producer in his own right. Black gave all that up several years ago when he converted to Judaism, got married, and had a son. Recently however, he’s been lured back into making music, although this time around the music is more earnest and uplifting in nature. Follow his set up at the Bigfoot stage at 2:25 for Minneapolis rapper P.O.S., who’s part of the ever-talented Doomtree collective and part of Rhymesayers, the label that brought us Atmosphere and Brother Ali. P.O.S. comes off a little stronger than some rappers, as some sort of hybrid between punk and rap. He’s just as likely to rap over squealing guitar as he is to record scratches and a bass beat. These two back-to-back is sure to wake you up and set a tone for your last day at the Gorge!

Stick around the Bigfoot stage for Cody ChesnuTT’s set at 3:25. Last year saw the release of his second full-length album Landing On A Hundred, the first since his debut in 2002. Fans of southern soul, R&B, funk, and blues will find a lot to like in ChesnuTT’s music, and his live shows are energetic and oozing with passion. Up next is Dirty Projectors at 4:30, led by the dizzying guitar work of the band's founder and guitarist David Longstreth. The really captivating aspect of Dirty Projectors are the vocals of Haley Dekle and especially Amber Coffman, who at times hit some serious Mariah Carey-level high notes. Their 2012 album Swing Lo Magellan may have been their most gorgeous and explorative release to date.

I'm calling it right now, Fateful Findings is going to win SIFF 2013. Regardless of category; best dialog, plot, love story, computer hacking - this film takes the experience to eleven. Admittedly, for some that might be to negative eleven. But in the bad movie olympics, Fateful Findings sticks the landing to take the gold, silver and bronze. A hell of a lot of fun to watch by myself, I cannot believe it won't be 10 times more enjoyable at its world premiere midnight screening. I seriously cannot wait for the equally improbable sequel. Take a gander at the trailer - if you're intrigued, RUN to buy a ticket. In a just universe, they'll sell out.

On one hand Fateful Findings is an absolute masterpiece of "can't look away" dysfunction, for which the phrase "hot mess" seems too complimentary. On the other hand, the bizarre and often unexplained vision makes it hugely entertaining - in ways many other bad films such as The Room don't approach. One doesn't need to throw spoons at the screen to enjoy Fateful Findings. Though I suppose a few cocktails or bit of other now legal in Washington substances couldn't hurt. Troll 2, you've now got some serious competition.

We're giving you the day-by-day for this year's Sasquatch! music festival -- check out our recommendations for Friday here, Saturday here, and read on for Sunday's picks!

Start Sunday off right with Seattle’s Deep Sea Diver, playing at 1:00 on the Bigfoot stage. Originally a solo project of guitarist Jessica Dobson, the band has evolved into a three piece that includes her husband Peter Mansen on drums. Dobson shreds on guitar; enough so that she’s spent time during the past year on tour as a guitarist for The Shins. Must see! Next up, at 2:00 on the Yeti stage, is Sean Nelson, who most will know as the former frontman for Harvey Danger. Nelson is set to release a solo album on June 4th titled Make Good Choices, featuring collaborations from Death Cab For Cutie’s Chris Walla and R.E.M.’s Peter Buck, and this will be a good chance to hear some of those new songs up-close-and-personal style.

At 3:05 on the Bigfoot stage is Diiv. The four-piece band is the project of Z. Cole Smith, former member of the band Beach Fossils. Smith has a strong admiration for Kurt Cobain, but the band has a sound that's distinctly different from his musical idol: elements of krautrock and early 90’s shoegaze dominate Diiv's vibe. For a changeup, Seattle rapper/producer/multi-instrumentalist O.C. Notes will be taking the Cthulhu stage at 4:15. The project is the moniker of Otis Calvin III, who can also be heard in the hip-hop duo Metal Chocolates. For Sasquatch, he’ll be joined live on stage by several talented Seattle area musicians, including Erik Blood on bass, Thomas Hunter (Wild Orchid Children) on guitar, Trent Moorman (Head Like A Kite) on drums, and Vox Mod on synths. Can't wait!!

I don't even feel like I need to write anything clever about Kathleen Hanna, because SHE IS KATHLEEN HANNA. Hello. HELLO.

So look. Here's the deal: We have a pair of tickets to give away to each showing of Sini Anderson's documentary The Punk Singer (obviously, about Kathleen Hanna). The film screens this Friday, 5/24, 9:30pm and again on Sunday, 5/26, 1:30pm at The Harvard Exit. Enter to win by sending an email to us at tig {at} threeimaginarygirls {dot} com with the subject line "Ramalamading dong" anytime between now and 5pm on Wednesday 5/22. And make sure you tell us WHICH screening you want tickets to! We'll notify the winners Thursday morning.